Brandon man 'lured to his death'; Manitoba RCMP charge three people

Two men have been charged with first-degree murder and a third with second-degree murder in the homicide of a Brandon man last year.

Two men have been charged with first-degree murder and a third with second-degree murder in the homicide of a Brandon man last year.

Manitoba RCMP announced the charges on Tuesday morning. The suspects were arrested in connection to the death of James Vernon Giesbrecht.

The victim’s remains were found in the trunk of a burned-out Honda Accord in the RM of Cornwallis on Oct. 13, 2022. RCMP, a forensic anthropologist, and the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner worked to identify the remains and the cause of death.

The death was ruled a homicide and the remains were identified in January 2023 – the month after Giesbrecht was reported missing.

“James Vernon Giesbrecht was only 37 when he died,” said Supt. Rob Lasson with the RCMP Major Crime Services.

“He lived in Brandon his whole life. He was a proud father, brother, son, who worked hard to support and spend time with his loved ones in Brandon.”

During the investigation, Mounties determined the Accord was stolen out of Regina. Police were able to identify the person who stole the car; however, they were not involved in the homicide. Investigators then learned one of the suspects gained possession of the stolen car.